Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region Workshop Lakes and Rivers Working Group The Hague, 20-21 June 2012

Top Four Summaries ISSUE SOLUTION ACTION Natura 2000 Seminars Contradiction between/within policy objectives Clear guidance 1. Cluster of MS to agree common objectives based on reference sites 2. Start with habitats and species for which there is enough data available 3. Seminar for water and nature managers to create a common framework / shared vision 4. Include in background document identification of areas of conflicts/synergies between Directives Local and pragmatic solutions Definition of conservation status/habitat types Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Top Four Summaries ISSUE SOLUTION ACTION Natura 2000 Seminars Habitat fragmentation Ecological network Identify ecosystem services as a linking concept for integration Develop guidance on planning and implementing practical management measures Integrated and strategic planning Restore flood plain dynamics Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Top Four Summaries ISSUE SOLUTION ACTION Natura 2000 Seminars Pollution (eutrophication, diffuse pollution, phosphorous) Strategic and integrated planning at national level 1. Identify ecosystem services as a linking concept for integration 2. Local/regional parties to identify local issues Reform of the CAP to deliver public goods including good water quality (e.g. targeted payments, remove harmful subsidies) Identify sources of pollution: prioritise and tackle the sources Integrating nature targets into river management and planning Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Top Four Summaries ISSUE SOLUTION ACTION Natura 2000 Seminars Hydromorphological modifications Natural development of riparian zones / scoping of ecological engineering 1. Creating a network to share best practice through trial sites for ecological engineering/strategic planning (including cooperation between scientists and practitioners) (cf RESTORE project) – link to WFD working group on hydromorphology Stimulating changes in land use towards sustainability Restoring natural processes Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Day 2 Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Q2. What special management measures are required to accommodate habitats and their key species? Start @ 16:30 Finish @ 17:30 Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Q2. List Special Management Measures SPECIES SPECIFIC MEASURES Aeschna viridis In wrong habitat type in BD (measures relate to Stratiotes) Atlantic salmon, Alosa spec. (migrating fish) Manipulating species composition (Angling); overcoming physical/chemical barriers (including migrating in rivers and between rivers and seas) Animal groups except fish and dragonflies Research; increase and share knowledge Sea lampreys; houting Implement specific measures to overcome migrating barriers for these non-jumping fish (design your measures for those species that have most specific habitat requirements) Many species How to determine what is viable population Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Q2. List Special Management Measures SPECIES SPECIFIC MEASURES Don’t focus on species Focus on Habitat heterogeneity; spatial quality (isolation, connectivity); optimizing habitats for 1 species may be damaging for other – ‘Habitat-led, species aware’ Migratory fish Do fish ladders work? There is evidence for effectiveness from NL, F, DK. Needs to be shared among countries (also outside of Atlantic region). Need specific measures also to allow downstream migration (preventing ecological trap with predators waiting at dams) Pearl mussel (Margaritifera) Mussel-friendly fisheries management (objectives need to be aligned and perception of species needs increased) Migratory waterbirds; breeding birds (e.g. Kingfisher) Regulation of recreational disturbance Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Q2. List Special Management Measures SPECIES SPECIFIC MEASURES Species for which habitat measures may not be sufficient Tackle persecution, exploitation, etc generic Take species requirements into account during development (e.g. resting sites, nesting sites) using species regulation into account Species that are less emblematic than others but equally listed (e.g. Bullhead) Treat equally protected species in an equal way Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

Cross-cutting theme: policy integration, ecosystem services and multiple benefits Start @ 11:30 Stop Listing @ 11:40 Finish @ 11:50 2-3s ~ all impacts per theme ~ list ~ vote ~ top 3 impacts per theme Natura 2000 Seminars Atlantic Biogeographic Region

How do we understand the theme Synergies between WFD, N2K, Floods Dir, N-dir, CAP, climate policy, renewable energy, biomass, fisheries, spatial planning + alignment of objectives How do various policies interpret good conservation status What language to use to integrate BD issues into other sectors (broad issues instead of detail) To use or not to use ecosystem services in communication for N2K? (may not help species protection) Cross-sectoral/integrated development of management plans (e.g. France copil, Germany roundtable) (at various scales) Integrated monitoring Multiple benefits at landscape scale through proper strategic planning

Messages Habitat-led, species aware Natura 2000 led, ecosystem services aware Cross-sectoral integrated planning

Recommendations (EU level) Better guidance at high level (EU) on interlinkages between policies. Exchange best practices. Define conservation status in more quantitative terms to allow benchmarking Coordinate allocation of priorities and targets for MS at EU level Harmonisation of data/indicators/reporting for various sectors and between MS

Recommendations (regional level) Sector-based guidance (e.g. recreation), linked to ecosystem services Implement Natura 2000 through regional spatial planning Analyse synergies and conflicts between policies; exchange such analyses between MS Use suitable language/terminology to mainstream Natura 2000 objectives into other sectors (cf TEEB) Combine monitoring efforts for mutual purposes (e.g. economic and biodiversity) Meeting of water and nature managers (e.g. workshop)